NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Robert De Niro looked on Wednesday as a lawyer for a woman who worked for him for over a decade urged a jury in closing arguments to award her millions of dollars because the actor discriminated and retaliated against her.
Attorney Brent Hannafan argued on Graham Chase Robinson鈥檚 behalf in Manhattan federal court after De Niro鈥檚 lawyer, Richard Schoenstein, told jurors that Robinson was a disloyal employee who stole $85,000 worth of airline miles and owes De Niro damages.
鈥淭his is a civil rights trial,鈥� Hannafan said. 鈥淵our verdict will have meaning when you return it, again, not just for Ms. Robinson, but for all civil rights litigants.鈥�
He urged jurors to award Robinson 鈥渟ignificant damages鈥� of at least seven figures and 鈥減ossibly up to eight figures,鈥� a request consistent with
Schoenstein said De Niro, 80, was the victim of a woman who caused 鈥渄rama and conflict鈥� at his company and lashed out with a lawsuit when he didn't meet her demands to continue paying her $300,000 salary after she quit in April 2019 at the height of a feud with De Niro's girlfriend.
鈥淭his trial is the ultimate version of drama and conflict,鈥� he said.
Robinson, 41, worked for one of De Niro鈥檚 companies, Canal Productions, beginning in 2008 as a personal assistant for less than $100,000 in salary. By 2019, De Niro had agreed to pay her $300,000 annually and elevated her title, making her vice president of production and finance.
The actor testified last week that her duties largely remained the same, though he gave her the boost in title at her request.
De Niro has won two Oscars over the past five decades in films such as 鈥淩aging Bull鈥� and 鈥淭he Deer Hunter.鈥� He's in the Martin Scorsese film 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon鈥� that's in theaters now.
De Niro sat relaxed in a chair between two of his lawyers during closing arguments. He declined to comment as he left the courthouse in a mask that protects against the coronavirus. It was the first time he'd been in court since he testified for two days early last week.
During his testimony, De Niro admitted that he had asked her to scratch his back and had used profanity, but he said he never did anything out of 鈥渄isrespect or lewdness.鈥�
He also said , only to lean forward in the witness chair soon after and glare at her as he shouted: 鈥淪hame on you, Chase Robinson!鈥�
, Robinson said she found it 鈥渃reepy鈥� and 鈥渄isgusting鈥� when De Niro told her that he liked the way she scratched his back when she suggested that he use a back scratching device instead.
Robinson said she quit after suffering an 鈥渆motion and mental breakdown鈥� as she clashed with his new girlfriend in 2019 over preparations for a townhouse that was going to be a home for the couple.
Tiffany Chen, De Niro鈥檚 girlfriend, told De Niro in a series of emails that she thought Robinson was having 鈥渋maginary intimacy鈥� with him and was a 鈥渕ean, insecure, territorial girl鈥� who 鈥渢hinks she鈥檚 your wife鈥� and 鈥渨ants to be the lady of the house.鈥�
Questioned about the emails when she testified last week, Chen did not back down, saying, 鈥淪he鈥檚 crazy.鈥�
In his arguments, Schoenstein asked the jury to compensate De Niro for his legal claims, which allege breach of loyalty and fiduciary duty requirements.
He said 5 million airline miles pocketed by Robinson were worth about $85,000 and that his client just wants 鈥渟tuff back.鈥�
鈥淯se your common sense,鈥� Schoenstein told jurors. 鈥淣obody鈥檚 here to ruin the plaintiff."
鈥淲e鈥檙e not looking for you to punish her,鈥� he later added.
Jurors were expected to begin deliberations on Thursday.
Larry Neumeister, The Associated Press
